Amtrak Board Proposal Will Cripple Railroad
AMTRAK BOARD PROPOSAL WILL CRIPPLE RAILROAD
April 26, 2005
Rahall Says Proposal Does Disservice to Passengers, Amtrak Employees, and Rail Transportation Nationwide-
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) expressed his disappointment with the Amtrak Board of Directors and their "strategic reform initiatives." The initiatives will doom the future prospects of the railroad, according to Rahall and many of his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
"It comes as no surprise to me that the Board's proposal is similar to that of the Administration's - Amtrak's entire governing body has been appointed by President Bush," said Rahall. "To be clear, if these proposals, both from Amtrak and the Administration, go into effect Amtrak will not survive. In many cases, the millions of people who depend on Amtrak's services will be left with no reliable means of rail transportation."
The Administration proposed to cut all funding to Amtrak in its budget, which was released earlier this year. The Board proposes to alter the Railway Labor Act to enable Amtrak to change work rules and contract out jobs. The Board's reforms would also eliminate many health, safety and benefit protections which Amtrak's workers have moved to secure over the years. In addition, newly hired Amtrak workers would not be able to enter into the Railroad Retirement System, which has covered rail workers for more than 70 years.
"The Board is attempting to put Amtrak's funding burden on the backs of its hard-working employees," said Rahall. "I will not stand for this blatant disregard for the hard-working employees of Amtrak and passenger rail throughout the country."
Rahall pointed to the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005, of which he is a cosponsor, as a plan that will benefit Amtrak, its workers and its passengers. The legislation, introduced by Don Young (R-AK) and James Oberstar (D-MN), would provide Amtrak with $2 billion each year through 2008. Rahall noted, "This bill would put the railroad on the track to financial and operational stability and also includes strict funding accountability procedures to ensure contractual obligations are met and money is spent wisely."
Rahall urged his colleagues to reject the proposals by both the Bush Administration and Amtrak's Board, saying that these proposals would "dismantle Amtrak" and aimed "only to weaken the railroad, place greater financial burden on the states, and harm the hard-working employees of Amtrak and passenger rail throughout the country." He urged Congress instead to support the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005.
http://www.rahall.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=10484